Reports

This report gathers several examples of promising practices by various levels of governments in the areas of education, health care, protection from violence, and non-detention, alongside some available data and relevant policy documents at EU level. By highlighting several promising laws, policies and practice, as well as tools at EU level, the report seeks to disseminate such policies, and support governments, and stakeholders working with them, to enact positive reforms to promote the well-being and development of every child residing in the European Union.

“UNDOCUMENTARY” (www.undocumentary.org) is a web documentary to showcase the daily realities faced by undocumented migrants living in Europe. This teacher's guide focuses on the web documentary's chapter “CHILDREN” and provides an example as to how UNDOCUMENTARY may be used in the classroom. It includes an introduction to the issue of irregular migration, detailed background information on the main characters, exercises and activities for various age groups with different learning objectives, and a range of additional materials and resources.

This paper considers some of the main issues regarding human rights of undocumented adolescents (children between 10 and 18 years of age) and youth (young adults between 19 and 35 years of age), focusing on the challenges around immigration detention and access to education. The following organisations and individuals contributed to this paper: Professor François Crépeau, Special Rapporteur on the Human Rights of Migrants, Michele LeVoy and Lilana Keith of the Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants (PICUM), Pablo Ceriani and Alejandro Morlachetti of the National University of Lanús (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Rhea Saab and Irene de Lorenzo-Cáceres Cantero of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and Pia Oberoi of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). An abridged version of this report will be published in 2014 as part of a Global Migration Group report entitled Adolescents, Youth and Migration: Challenges and Opportunities.

Addressing civil society organisations in Nigeria advocating for the rights of undocumented migrants, this guide provides them with tools and practical examples to carry out their own advocacy work with irregular migrants at every stage of the migration process: before departure, while they cross borders, in the destination countries and finally during return, whether it occurs voluntary or is forced. It is a resource containing examples of the numerous ways in which NGOs, trade unions, migrants’ organizations and other actors uphold the human rights of undocumented migrants. The guide is an outcome of the Beyond Irregularity project.

This guide is an outcome of the project Beyond Irregularity and outlines the rights of migrants in Morocco and possible strategies and actions civil society organisations, labour unions and activists can take to ensure the rights of undocumented migrants. By providing examples, the guide aims to strengthen the position of undcoumented migrant workers in the country.

On the occasion of its 10th anniversary, PICUM published an overview of its work since 2001. The report describes the growth of PICUM from a small, joint initiative among local-levelorganisations and advocates in the late 1990s, to its current status as a leading NGO in European and international policy discussions on undocumented migrants’ rights.

To promote an end to violence against women, this report provides a practical overview of methods that protect rights and ensure justice for survivors regardless of their immigration status. Across Europe, undocumented women are turned away from women’s shelters, denied psychological support, and risk arrest or deportation if they contact the police. This “institutional” or “administrative” violence is not only discriminatory, but it is fostering a culture of impunity across the region.

This report pieces together a year of European, national and local news issues on irregular migration to foster a better understanding of the main concerns of human rights of undocumented migrants as well as the multifaceted ways in which civil society throughout Europe is responding to this situation of social exclusion. It is based on a review of events reported in PICUM’s newsletter during the year 2009.

This report pieces together a year of European, national and local news issues on irregular migration to foster a better understanding of the main concerns of human rights of undocumented migrants as well as the multifaceted ways in which civil society throughout Europe is responding to this situation of social exclusion. It is based on a review of events reported in PICUM’s newsletter during the year 2008.

In this report, PICUM aims to identify some of the main problems and obstacles in gathering information within 11 EU member states concerning residence permits for seriously ill undocumented migrants. For each country, an analysis of the legal framework for eligibility of such a residence permit, the availability of medical stay permits, the application procedure and the involvement of health care practitioners during the procedure is addressed.

The opinions of NGOs, authorities and health care practitioners on the creation of a European medical database of information on the availability and accessibility of medical treatment around the world are also presented.

This report aims to investigate the particular vulnerability that characterizes the reality of undocumented children and analyze their specific needs and problems encountered in nine EU countries.The report is specifically focused on the discrimination that these children might face in accessing their basic social rights in the areas of education, health care and housing.Good practices of civil society organizations in providing assistance to undocumented children are illustrated. The report also underlines the profound interdependence of all social rights and how denying access to one of these rights affects all the others.

The report presents the findings and recommendations of PICUM's two year EU project 'Access to Health Care for Undocumented Migrants in Europe'. Field trips were carried out in 11 countries (Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK) and numerous meetings were held in Brussels with our 19 partner organizations consisting of NGOs, Health Care Professionals and Local Authorities.

The report details legislation and practice concerning health care for undocumented migrants in each of the countries and highlights growing reliance upon civil society actors to provide urgent and life-saving care to those in need.

The purpose of this overview is to present a wide picture of the "international migration regime" and to offer a useful tool that can be used by a wide range of actors to strengthen their knowledge of undocumented migrants' human rights.

Its two-part structure presents, firstly, instruments within the international and European human rights frameworks and clarifies why and how these instruments uphold the human rights of undocumented migrants. The second part enumerates more in detail all of the human rights that apply to undocumented migrants within the international and European conventions and relative articles therein

This report is an overview of some of the main issues that PICUM has identified concerning the fundamental rights of undocumented migrants in 2006. It is based upon issues that were highlighted in PICUM's newsletters throughout that year, including the increasing numbers of deaths at EU borders, the various barriers undocumented migrants faced in accessing health care services, the erosion of the right to fair working conditions, and the lack of protection for undocumented children. The report gives examples of measures that have resulted in a worsening of human rights standards for undocumented migrants in Europe and points out some of the different initiatives undertaken by EU member states and/or EU institutions that seem to move in this direction.

The aim of this report is to contribute towards a just and pragmatic policy towards migrant workers. It presents a wide range of examples of the numerous ways in which NGOs, trade unions and other actors uphold the rights of undocumented workers in Europe and in the United States.

For policy makers concerned about finding adequate solutions that are beneficial for all, PICUM has concluded this report with ten recommendations.

This report provides information of the right to housing in general, and gives an overview of the situation in six selected countries (the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Austria, Germany and Spain) as regards the housing situation of undocumented migrants.

The information resulted from desk research and from interviews with staff of both homeless organizations and NGOs dealing with undocumented migrants.

This report analyses the socio-economic and political forces that create and maintain the presence of undocumented migrant workers in Europe. It provides the backdrop for considering what rights should be granted to undocumented migrant workers. The situation in various economic sectors in Europe is analysed, and issues such as the protection of victims of forced labor and the problems associated with regularization campaigns are presented. The report highlights the role played by social inspectors, trade unions and NGOs in protecting undocumented migrant workers, and offers recommendations for specific policy measures.

Many articles contained in this report were presented at an international conference on undocumented migrant workers, which was held at the European Parliament on 26 May 2003.

This three-volume series brings to light the solidarity extended to undocumented migrants in selected Member States of the European Union.

Undocumented migrants residing in Europe are socially excluded and very vulnerable to marginalization. Europe needs and makes use of the labor of undocumented migrants, but is at the same time not willing to give any rewards for their contributions. Undocumented migration is fought in many ways.

The many citizens and civil organizations that are providing assistance to this vulnerable group in society are highlighted. The examples of assistance presented in the three volumes focus on undocumented migrants’ access to basic social rights such as health care, housing, employment rights, education, legal advice and assistance. In these fields both direct assistance is provided and structural work is done.

This publication is a result of an international experts seminar held by PICUM in March 2001.

The immediate aim of the seminar was to exchange experience and viewpoints of medical experts working with undocumented migrants in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The publication describes the situation in the four countries concerning undocumented migrants' access to health care and the possibilities of obtaining a residence permit based upon medical grounds.

An extensive report of the seminar discussions, as well as conclusions and recommendations that were formulated at the end of the seminar are included.